Moving is difficult enough, but it can be even more difficult when you have pets or animals in the home as well. Unlike other people, your pets and animals are unable to talk to you to tell you how they are feeling or if they are scared. As such, it can be very difficult for them to make it through all of the changes that moving will bring. Thankfully, there are a number of things that you can do to ease the stress they feel throughout the process. Here are a few simple tips to get you and your pet started on the path to a successful move.

Routines

The one thing that will help your pet get through this tumultuous time the most is keeping their routine the same as it always has been. Animals thrive on having their daily routine, and knowing when things are going to happen. Changing this now will only make the other changes going on around them even worse. To that end, be certain that you keep feeding times and exercise times the same so that your pets will be able to hold on to some semblance of routine. Don't change their food or the type of water they eat or drink either. While it might not seem like a groundbreaking thing, this will go a long way towards helping stabilize your pets attitude and stress level during the move.

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Records and Medical Needs

No matter where you are moving, it is vital to have your pet's shot records and medical records on hand. Schedule a vet visit right before you leave so that you can get a health certificate. Most of the time, you will need to present this in your new home to get a rabies tag for your pet, and it usually needs to be less than ten days old. Furthermore, you should get your pet checked so that you can request a copy of your pet's records and so you can ask about a referral to a new vet.

Once you arrive at your new home, schedule an appointment to get established with your new vet as soon as possible.

Travel Itself

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It is very important that you plan ahead for the method of transport you plan on using to move your pet to your new home. There are a few options open to you.

If flying, purchase a plane ticket well in advance and contact the airline to get information as to what container you'll need to ship your animal in and what other requirements you'll have to meet.

If you're driving your pets, and it is a long distance trip, book only hotel rooms that will allow you to have your pets with you. Remember, no pet should ever be left in a car or truck for any length of time.

If you want someone else to handle the transport of your pet, consider hiring a special pet moving company who can transport your pet in style. Book these services well in advance so you aren't scrambling at the very last minute.

Moving Day

On moving day, it is very important that you keep your pet locked away so that they cannot get aggressive with the movers or run away. The last thing you want to be doing on moving day is chasing your family member through the old neighborhood. To that end, clear out a room ahead of time and make it the place where your animal will stay throughout the entire day. This will keep them safe. Make sure that you tell the movers or anyone helping you move that the pet is in that room and not to open it. If you're concerned, take it a step further and put a note on the door.

Author Bio: Alyssa Sullivan is a moving expert with over twenty years of experience in the relocation field. Having worked with a number of moving companies, she now maintains a website called Moving Angels to help others make their moves easy.